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Introduction: Trypanosomosis is a disease caused by trypanosomes, a group of unicellular parasites found in the fluid and tissues of vertebrates. The disease is characterized by anorexia, anaemia, emaciation, weakness and eventual death. Method: A prospective study design was conducted to assess clinical manifestations and parasitaemia in cattle with trypanosomosis under natural infection in Niger state, Nigeria between the months of January to May 2017. A sample size of 343 cattle was purposively selected out of which 262 were diagnosed of clinical trypanosomosis. The clinical signs and parasitaemia associated with Trypanosomosis were monitored in these animals. Result: Of the 343 cattle sampled cattle 45 (13%) were positive for trypanosome infection. Trypanosoma vivax (5.5%), T. congolense (5.5%), and T. brucei (2.0%) were the three trypanosomes identified in the infected animals. The most frequently observed clinical signs were weight loss, weakness, intermittent anorexia, pale mucous membrane, epiphora, and dark/rough hair coat. The mean body weights (257.94±74.13kg) and the mean PCV (23.27±6.82%) of the infected animals were significantly lower than that of the control (386.96±62.69kg and 32.47±8.35%) respectively. Similarly, the mean rectal temperature of the infected animals (39.82±1.79°C) differed significantly (P<0.05) from that of the control. Significance: Clinical manifestations of trypanosomosis when taken into consideration with ecological considerations might provide sufficient grounds for a putative diagnosis of the disease by clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slaughter houses provide excellent avenues for detecting diseases of both economic and public health importance in livestock. A study of 12,429 slaughtered goats at the Bauchi central abattoir was carried out (from February to May, 2015) in order to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in slaughtered goats. The lesions were counted, visually examined and palpated during post mortem meat inspection. Of the 12,429 goats slaughtered and examined, tuberculosis-like lesions were observed in four (4) slaughtered goats with a prevalence of 0.03%. It was concluded that although the prevalence was relatively low, the financial losses and public health implications of the finding should not be over looked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: to detect the value of serum Glycated Albumin measurement as a marker for RA associated coronary artery atherosclerosis and also a marker for RA disease activity. Patients and Methods: serum GA using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chemical and immunological markers of RA were measured in 30 RA patients and 15 age and sex matched controls known to have established coronary artery disease. Disease activity was assessed using the DAS-28 score. Carotid ultrasound was done to both groups to measure the carotid IMT. Results: A significantly higher serum GA level on comparing RA patients and controls (T=5.096, P < 0.001). Serum GA had a significant positive correlation with ESR (r=0.546, P < 0.002) and CRP (r=0.768, P<0.001), a significant positive correlation with DAS-28 (r=0.532, P < 0.002), a significant positive correlation with mean carotid IMT (r=0.471, P=0.019). The mean carotid IMT showed a highly significant positive correlation with the disease duration (r=0.645, P<0.001), a positive correlation with severe disease activity (r=0.771, P=0.015), but negative correlation with mild and moderate disease activity (r=0.500, P=0.667) and (r=0.452, P=0.059) respectively. Another significant positive correlation was found between the mean carotid IMT and the LDL (r=0.408, P=0.025) but negative correlation with total cholesterol and HDL (r=0.120, P=0.527) and (r = - 0.250, P=0.183). On comparing the mean carotid IMT with the presence of soft atheromatous plaque it gave negative results with positive correlation (T = -3.273, P=0.003) Conclusion: Serum GA is a specific and sensitive biomarker for detection of subclinical atherosclerosis and disease activity in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of host plant changing on the development of Tetranychus urticas Koch (Acari, Tetranychidae): consequence of mite infestation in Citrus fields. Changes of hosts in T. urticae is associated with notorious lost of reproduction potentialities. At 25°C, the fecundity of females which are always reared on Solanum nigram (75.7 eggs) fell to 1.07 eggs when they were reared on Citrus. It is the same for the longevity of females in this mite. The females permanently feeding on Citrus have a longevity of 16.9 days compared with only 9 days in females from Solanum nigrum that were transferred to Citrus. Similar changes operated at 20°C produce the same results. The practical consequences of these experiences on the swarming of mites in the field of Citrus were analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The combination of infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy allowed the monitoring of the structural changes of a soda-lime glass submitted to increasing durations of Ag+–Na+ ion exchange in a molten salt bath at 350°C. Both techniques show an insertion of silver ions in the glass structure that is about 10% higher than the departure of sodium ions. The electro neutrality of the compounds is preserved with local alterations which lead to a higher degree of depolymerization of the silicate network. During the exchange process only sodium leaves the matrix and its content does not go beyond a threshold of about 50% of the initial content. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Participation in restorative justice interventions post-sentence has been shown to reduce reoffending and mitigate harm to victims. Investment in, and access to, restorative justice remains limited in England and Wales. An economic model was developed to synthesize the available evidence in order to develop contemporary and robust estimates of the economic impact of investment in restorative justice interventions., Methods: This research focused on direct and indirect restorative justice interventions for victims and offenders post-sentence in England and Wales. Included offences were those with an identifiable victim. A model was developed to estimate the social benefit-cost ratio of restorative justice, as well as the direct financial return to the criminal justice system. The modeled benefits of restorative justice included reductions in reoffending and direct wellbeing benefits for victims. It was not possible to incorporate direct wellbeing benefits for offenders due to evidence gaps., Results: In the model, 8% of referrals to restorative justice resulted in direct restorative justice interventions and 19% resulted in indirect Restorative justice interventions. The modeled cost of the restorative justice pathway per direct intervention was £3,394. The base case estimate for the social benefit-cost ratio of restorative justice was £14 per £1 invested, with a direct return to the criminal justice system of £4 as a result of substantial reductions in reoffending. Scenario analysis suggested a plausible range of £7 to £20 social benefit per £1 invested. Hypothetically, increasing the proportion of eligible cases referred for a restorative justice intervention from 15 to 40% could be associated with an increase in investment of £5 m, and benefits to the criminal justice system totaling £22 m, implying a net saving of £17 m., Conclusion: The research suggests that Restorative justice has the potential to yield a substantial social return on investment (SROI) and direct return on investment to the criminal justice system. The economic case for investment in restorative justice centers on identifying offenders with a high risk of offending and enabling them to participate in an intervention that has been repeatedly demonstrated to help them to change their behavior., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Grimsey Jones, Jaffé, Harris, Franklin, Allam and Shapland.)

Background: Due to its affordability in disease-affected communities and suitability for field application, microscopy has historically been considered the gold standard for field diagnosis of trypanosomosis in rural settings., Aim: This works aims to compare the performance of microscopists on bovine trypanosome microscopy by organizing the first comparative assessment on a correct reading of slides by laboratory professionals using the read slide results and a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire in North-central Nigeria., Methods: Ten participants were addressed, as they were sent a panel of two slides (Slide 1: No Trypanosome present; Slide 2: Trypanosome present) and a questionnaire., Results: All participants greater than 41 years old reported correctly the presence and absence of parasites on slides. Only 3/8 of microscopists from routine diagnostic laboratories reported correctly the presence of the parasite., Conclusion: Our study confirmed errors in reading slides. Therefore, training of microscopists besides a nationwide quality assessment is recommended., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

This study aimed to perform molecular typing of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides from slaughtered cattle in Adamawa and Taraba States, north‑eastern Nigeria. A total of four hundred and eighty (480) samples of lung tissues, nasal swabs, ear swabs and pleural fluids were collected from cattle at slaughter and processed according to standard laboratory protocols. Identification and confirmation were achieved with specific PCR and PCR‑RFLP. An overall M. mycoides subsp. mycoides isolation rate of 6.87% (33/480) was obtained. In Adamawa State, 12 (10.91%) isolates of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides came from both, lung tissues and pleural fluids. While in Taraba State, 5 (7.14%) and 4 (5.71%) isolates of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides came from lung tissues and pleural fluids, respectively. The samples from nasal and ear swabs from the study states were negative for M. mycoides subsp. mycoides. Thirty‑three out of the 37 culture positive isolates were confirmed to be Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides with the production of a band equivalent to 574‑bp. Molecular typing with restriction endonuclease Vsp1 results in the two bands of 180‑bp and 380‑bp. In conclusion, the study has established an isolation rate of 6.87% for M. mycoides subsp. mycoides. Measures to strengthen movement control in order to minimise the spread of this dreaded disease of cattle were recommended.

This study evaluated the ameliorative properties of Azanza garckeana in Bisphenol A-induced reproductive toxicities on weight, spermiogram, serum hormonal profile, sperm DNA integrity, histopathology of testes and brain tissues of rabbit bucks. Twenty-eight rabbit bucks, with live weight of 1.20-2.00 kg and aged 10-18 months. They were randomly divided into four groups of seven bucks each, group A was administered distilled water (1.5 mL) daily for 12 weeks, group B was administered Bisphenol A (100 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days in a week for a period of 12 weeks, group C was administered Azanza garckeana (500 mg/kg) daily for 12 weeks and group D was pre-dosed with Bisphenol A (100 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days in a week over 6 weeks period followed by Azanza garckeana (500 mg/kg) daily for another 6 weeks. Mean testicular weights differed significantly (p < 0.05) between group B (4.4 ± 0.23) when compared with groups A (8.0 ± 0.06), C (8.7 ± 0.19) and D (7.1 ± 0.18). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mean reaction time, spermiogram, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and sperm DNA fragmentation index between Bisphenol A-exposed groups and treatment groups. On histopathology, there was testicular vacuolization, interstitial hemorrhage, reduction in spermatogenic cells following Bisphenol A exposure. There were layers of dense basophilic cells in the pineal and pituitary parenchymas. In conclusion, Bisphenol A has negative effects on reproduction but administration of Azanza garckeana may possess some therapeutic properties that can ameliorate such adverse effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a complex emerging arboviral hemorrhagic disease that causes significant illness in animals and humans. Camel trade across the land borders between Nigeria and the Niger Republic occurs frequently and poses a significant risk for RVF transmission to pastoralists and traders. We carried a cross-sectional study between November 2016 and April 2017 in two northern States (Katsina and Jigawa) known for camel trade in Nigeria to investigate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors for RVFV occurrence. We collected 720 sera and administered questionnaire to pastoralists. We used the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) to determine the previous exposure to RVFV infection. We retrieved  environmental information from public data sources that might explain RVFV seropositivity at  the LGA level. To asses potential risk factors,we categorized LGAs with RVFV as "1" and those without a case" 0". We fitted a logistic model to the data  and estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. An overall 19.9% prevalence was reported among camel herd-the highest seropositivity (33.3%) was recorded in SuleTankarkar LGA. In the multivariable model, only rain-fed croplands was significantly associated with RVFV antibodies occurrence p  = 0.048 (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76-0.99). Only a minority of the respondents, 19.3% ( n  = 17/88), knew that RVF is zoonotic. Separation of healthy animals from the infected animals was carried out by 53.4% (47/88) pastoralists while 59.1% (52/88) pastoralists still use ethnoveterinary practices to control or mitigate disease outbreaks. Our study demonstrates the presence of RVFV antibodies among camel in Nigeria and the associated risk factors. These findings highlight the need for enhancing surveillance and control efforts and the public health education of camel pastoralists. Further investigation to unravel the zoonotic transmission potential to pastoralists and other animal species is pertinent., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this study., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objectives: To assess the quality of care for patients with diabetes in Queensland hospitals, including blood glucose control, rates of hospital-acquired harm, the incidence of insulin prescription and management errors, and appropriate foot and peri-operative care., Design, Setting: Cross-sectional audit of 27 public hospitals in Queensland: four of five tertiary/quaternary referral centres, four of seven large regional or outer metropolitan hospitals, seven of 13 smaller outer metropolitan or small regional hospitals, and 12 of 88 hospitals in rural or remote locations., Participants: 850 adult inpatients with diabetes mellitus in medical, surgical, mental health, high dependency, or intensive care wards., Results: Twenty-seven of 115 public hospitals that admit acute inpatients participated in the audit, including 4175 of 6652 eligible acute hospital beds in Queensland. A total of 1003 patients had diabetes (24%), and data were collected for 850 (85%). Their mean age was 65.9 years (SD, 15.1 years), 357 were women (42%), and their mean HbA 1c level was 66 mmol/mol (SD, 26 mmol/mol). Rates of good diabetes days (appropriate monitoring, no more than one blood glucose measurement greater than 10 mmol/L, and none below 5 mmol/L) were low in patients with type 1 diabetes (22.1 per 100 patient-days) or type 2 diabetes treated with insulin (40.1 per 100 patient-days); hypoglycaemia rates were high for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (24.1 episodes per 100 patient-days). One or more medication errors were identified for 201 patients (32%), including insulin prescribing errors for 127 patients (39%). Four patients with type 1 diabetes experienced diabetic ketoacidosis in hospital (8%); 121 patients (14%) met the criteria for review by a specialist diabetes team but were not reviewed by any diabetes specialist (medical, nursing, allied health)., Conclusions: We identified several deficits in inpatient diabetes management in Queensland, including high rates of medication error and hospital-acquired harm and low rates of appropriate glycaemic control, particularly for patients treated with insulin. These deficits require attention, and ongoing evaluation of outcomes is necessary., (© 2021 AMPCo Pty Ltd.)

Background and Aims: Several studies have shown that genetic polymorphisms of the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) are highly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated complications in several populations. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of the rs7903146 (C/T) and rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene with the risk of developing T2DM in the Moroccan population., Material and Methods: A total of 150 T2DM patients and 100 healthy controls were recruited for various anthropometric, biochemical and genetic parameters. Genotyping was performed by using Real Time-PCR. The frequency of genotypes, alleles, anthropometric measures, glycemia, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were evaluated in patients and control, while lipid profile was available only for T2DM group., Results: Glycemia, HbA1c and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in T2DM group than control. Analysis of the distribution of the TCF7L2 rs7903146 genotype and allele revealed that the TT genotype was more frequent in T2DM group (24.0%) than in healthy controls (5%) (OR = 4.08, 95% confidence interval (CI = 1.95-11.80, p < 0.0001). The T allele was more frequent in diabetic patients (45.2%) than healthy control (34.5%) and it was associated with high risk of diabetes (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.12-7.31, p = 0.005). The same results were found regarding rs12255372, TT genotype frequencies were 18,7% and 6.0% in T2DM and control group, respectively (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.33-7.24, p = 0.004). The T allele was over-presented in diabetics compared to controls (45.3% and 38.0%, respectively) and increases the risk of T2DM (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.04-3.10, p = 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the three genotypes of rs7903146 and rs12255372 regarding age, BMI, glycemia, HbA1c and lipid profile., Conclusion: The present study confirmed a significant association of the TCF7L2 gene (rs7903146 (C/T) and rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphisms with a higher risk to T2DM in the Moroccan population. No significant difference in respect to anthropometric and metabolic parameters between different genotypes.

Background and Aim: Different species of trypanosomes have been reported to cause varying degrees of reproductive disorders in pregnant and non-pregnant animals under experimental infections. Information on reproductive disorders and losses in animals naturally infected with trypanosome species are few. This study was carried out to assess the abnormalities in the genital organs (ovaries, oviduct, uterus, cervix, and vagina) of female cattle naturally infected with trypanosomes in and around Abuja, Nigeria., Materials and Methods: Cows showing signs such as emaciation, weakness, or anemia were selected and examined at Gwagwalada and Karu abattoirs, respectively. Venous blood samples were taken from 108 of such animals and screened using standard trypanosome detection methods. The genital organs were also collected and inspected for gross and histopathological lesions in the laboratory., Results: Six (5.55%) out of the 108 animals were positive for trypanosomes; 4 (66.7%) were infected with Trypanosoma vivax and 2 (33.3%) were infected with Trypanosoma congolense . The mean packed cell volume of the infected animals was 22.83%. Grossly, congestion and ecchymotic hemorrhages were observed in the endometrium, myometrium, and cervical submucosa. Mucometra, hydrometra, and pyometra were also seen in the uterus. Histologically, necrosis of the epithelium and endometrial glands accompanied by mononuclear cellular infiltration was observed in the uterus. There was also sloughing of the endometrial epithelium, vascular congestion, and hypertrophy of serosa of the uterus. There was atropy of the granulosa cells, increased numbers of degenerating tertiary follicles, and absence of corpora lutea in the ovary. No gross or histopathological lesions were observed in the fallopian tube and vagina., Conclusion: The lesions observed were restricted to the uterus and ovary of the animals and were less severe when compared to lesions observed under experimental conditions as reported by previous authors., (Copyright: © Abah, et al.)

In late December 2019, an emerging viral infection COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China, and became a global pandemic. Characterization of the genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial in following and evaluating it spread across countries. In this study, we collected and analyzed 3,067 SARS-CoV-2 genomes isolated from 55 countries during the first three months after the onset of this virus. Using comparative genomics analysis, we traced the profiles of the whole-genome mutations and compared the frequency of each mutation in the studied population. The accumulation of mutations during the epidemic period with their geographic locations was also monitored. The results showed 782 variants sites, of which 512 (65.47%) had a non-synonymous effect. Frequencies of mutated alleles revealed the presence of 68 recurrent mutations, including ten hotspot non-synonymous mutations with a prevalence higher than 0.10 in this population and distributed in six SARS-CoV-2 genes. The distribution of these recurrent mutations on the world map revealed that certain genotypes are specific to geographic locations. We also identified co-occurring mutations resulting in the presence of several haplotypes. Moreover, evolution over time has shown a mechanism of mutation co-accumulation which might affect the severity and spread of the SARS-CoV-2. The phylogentic analysis identified two major Clades C1 and C2 harboring mutations L3606F and G614D, respectively and both emerging for the first time in China. On the other hand, analysis of the selective pressure revealed the presence of negatively selected residues that could be taken into considerations as therapeutic targets. We have also created an inclusive unified database (http://covid-19.medbiotech.ma) that lists all of the genetic variants of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes found in this study with phylogeographic analysis around the world., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: LMTK3 and AKT1 each have a role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms of AKT1 and LMTK3 could lead to more complete and accurate risk estimates for colorectal cancer., Aim: We evaluated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of AKT1 and LMTK3 and the risk of colorectal cancer in a case-control study in Moroccan population., Methods: Genomic DNA from 70 colorectal cancer patients and 50 healthy control subjects was extracted from whole blood. Genotyping was performed by direct sequencing after polymerase chain reactions for the 7 SNPs (AKT1rs1130214G/T, AKT1rs10138227C/T, AKT1rs3730358C/T, AKT1rs1000559097G/A, AKT1rs2494737A/T, LMTK3rs8108419G/A, and LMTK3rs9989661A/G.). Study subjects provided detailed information during the collection. All P values come from bilateral tests., Results: In the logistic regression analysis, a significantly high risk of colorectal cancer was associated with TC/TT genotypes of rs10138227 with adjusted odds ratio [OR] equal to 2.82 and 95% confidence interval [CI] of 1.15 to 6.91., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the SNP AKT1rs10138227 could affect susceptibility to CRC, probably by modulating the transcriptional activity of AKT1. However, larger independent studies are needed to validate our results.

The global burden of infections and the rapid spread of viral diseases show the need for new approaches in the prevention and development of effective therapies. To this end, we aimed to explore novel inhibitor compounds that can stop replication or decrease the viral load of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), for which there is currently no approved treatment. Besides using the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) receptor as a main gate, the CoV-2 can bind to the glucose-regulating protein 78 (GRP78) receptor to get into the cells to start an infection. Here, we report potential inhibitors comprising small molecules and peptides that could interfere with the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 and its target cells by blocking the recognition of the GRP78 cellular receptor by the viral Spike protein. These inhibitors were discovered through an approach of in silico screening of available databases of bioactive peptides and polyphenolic compounds and the analysis of their docking modes. This process led to the selection of 9 compounds with optimal binding affinities to the target sites. The peptides (satpdb18674, satpdb18446, satpdb12488, satpdb14438, and satpdb28899) act on regions III and IV of the viral Spike protein and on its binding sites in GRP78. However, 4 polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), homoeriodictyol, isorhamnetin, and curcumin interact, in addition to the Spike protein and its binding sites in GRP78, with the ATPase domain of GRP78. Our work demonstrates that there are at least 2 approaches to block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by preventing its fusion with the host cells via GRP78., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests:The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing since its onset in late November 2019 in Wuhan, China. Understanding and monitoring the genetic evolution of the virus, its geographical characteristics, and its stability are particularly important for controlling the spread of the disease and especially for the development of a universal vaccine covering all circulating strains. From this perspective, we analyzed 30,983 complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes from 79 countries located in the six continents and collected from 24 December 2019, to 13 May 2020, according to the GISAID database. Our analysis revealed the presence of 3206 variant sites, with a uniform distribution of mutation types in different geographic areas. Remarkably, a low frequency of recurrent mutations has been observed; only 169 mutations (5.27%) had a prevalence greater than 1% of genomes. Nevertheless, fourteen non-synonymous hotspot mutations (>10%) have been identified at different locations along the viral genome; eight in ORF1ab polyprotein (in nsp2, nsp3, transmembrane domain, RdRp, helicase, exonuclease, and endoribonuclease), three in nucleocapsid protein, and one in each of three proteins: Spike, ORF3a, and ORF8. Moreover, 36 non-synonymous mutations were identified in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein with a low prevalence (<1%) across all genomes, of which only four could potentially enhance the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the human ACE2 receptor. These results along with intra-genomic divergence of SARS-CoV-2 could indicate that unlike the influenza virus or HIV viruses, SARS-CoV-2 has a low mutation rate which makes the development of an effective global vaccine very likely.

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of six severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains. SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, which started at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China. The isolates were obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs from Moroccan patients with COVID-19. Mutation analysis revealed the presence of the spike D614G mutation in all six genomes, which is widely present in several genomes around the world., (Copyright © 2020 Laamarti et al.)

Introduction: The emergence of new omics approaches, such as genomic algorithms to identify tumor mutations and molecular modeling tools to predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins, has facilitated the understanding of the dynamic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of low-grade gliomas including oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas., Methods: In this study, we targeted known mutations involved in low-grade gliomas, starting with the sequencing of genomic regions encompassing exon 4 of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 ( IDH1 ) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 ( IDH2 ) and the four exons (5-6 and 7-8) of TP53 from 32 samples, followed by computational analysis to study the impact of these mutations on the structure and function of 3 proteins IDH1, IDH2 , and p53 ., Results: We obtain a mutation that has an effect on the catalytic site of the protein IDH1 as R132H and on the catalytic site of the protein IDH2 as R172M. Other mutations at p53 have been identified as K305N, which is a pathogenic mutation; R175 H, which is a benign mutation; and R158G, which disrupts the structural conformation of the tumor suppressor protein., Conclusion: In low-grade gliomas, mutations in IDH1, IDH2 , and TP53 may be the key to tumor progression because they have an effect on the function of the protein such as mutations R132H in IDH1 and R172M in IDH2 , which change the function of the enzyme alpha-ketoglutarate, or R158G in TP53 , which affects the structure of the generated protein, thus their importance in understanding gliomagenesis and for more accurate diagnosis complementary to the anatomical pathology tests., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests:The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

AXL is an important drug target for cancers. Two-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (2D-QSAR) tests were performed to elucidate a relationship between molecular structures and the activity of a series of 400 curcumin derivatives subjected to AXL kinase by ATP competition in the catalytic site. The partial least square regression method implanted in molecular operating environment software was applied to develop QSAR models, which were further validated for statistical significance by internal and external validation. The best model has proven to be statistically robust with a good predictive correlation of R 2  = 0.996 and a significant cross-validation correlation coefficient of q 2  = 0.707. Docking analysis reveled that three curcumin derivatives have the best affinity for AXL and formed a hydrogen bond with the important amino acid residues in the binding pocket. As treated in this article, the docking studies and 2D-QSAR approach will pave the way for the development of new drugs while highlighting curcumin and its derivatives.

Background: Data on procedural characteristics and clinical outcome of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in adults younger than 35 years has not been sufficiently addressed. The aim is to assess procedural characteristics and clinical outcome of catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in young adults in comparison to older adults., Results: Seventy-six consecutive patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) at Ain Shams University Hospitals from 2013 till 2016. They were divided into the two groups, young population group (mean age 31.6 ± 4.2 years, 77% men) and older population group (mean age 49 ± 8.4 years, 74% men). Clinical data before and during the procedure were recorded. Follow-up was based on outpatient visits including 24 h Holter, ECG at 3, 6, and, 12 months post single ablation procedure. Recurrence was defined as any AF/atrial tachycardia episode > 30 s following a 3-month blanking period. Body mass index, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and left atrial volume were higher in the older population group [P values 0.019, < 0.001, and 0.001, respectively]. The presence of low-voltage areas was found only in 22% of the older population group and not in the younger group [P 0.02]. All patients were followed up for 1 year; 1-year arrhythmia-free survival after a single procedure was 83.3% (25/30) and 78.3% (36/46) in the older group [P 0.75]. No complications were recorded in both groups. Redo AF ablation were done for four patients in the old group and one patient in the young group., Conclusions: Catheter ablation of AF in very young adults is associated with higher 1-year success rates but comparable to success rates in older populations. AF ablation for PAF is effective in very young adults.

The abnormal activation of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and overexpression of LMTK3, are the main factors involved in the generation of drug resistance. Therefore, the use of computer-aided drug design in the inhibitors discovery offers an advantage to provide new candidates for the treatment of this resistance. We realised the virtual screening and molecular docking of AKT1 and LMTK3 proteins by the Dockblaster server. In addition, with abundance of candidates under development for AKT1 kinase, we have also conducted a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) study based on these compounds, in order to design more active compounds and predict their activity for development of a new inhibitor of AKT1. QSAR tests were performed for AKT1 using the Partial Least Squares method with a correlation coefficient of R2=0.8062 and a cross-validation of q2=0.6995. This test has selected five compounds as competitive inhibitors-AKT1-ATP with a better biological activities. In parallel the molecular screening has selected five other compounds as competitive ATP-inhibitors of LMTK3. One of them is a common inhibitor with AKT1, and it is marketed as a moderate to severe pain therapy. The ADME predictions confirmed the inhibitors pharmacological activity of these compounds for potential consideration as drug candidates.

The family Phytoseiidae includes more than 2,300 species distributed all over the world. However despite the huge numbers of faunistic surveys carried out for more than 60 years, the fauna of some countries and particular ecosystems remain little explored. This paper reports results of surveys carried out in various regions of Morocco (from Sahara to Atlantic and Mediteranean coasts) in 2002 and 2003. A total of 43 species was found. Among them 19 are new for the Moroccan fauna and five are new to science. This paper provides the descriptions of these five new species, Neoseiulus thymeleae, Transeius audeae, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) ballotae, T. (T.) leclanti, T. (T.) mazarii, and re-descriptions of two species (Typhlodromus (T.) setubali and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) clairathiasae. A key to females of the 52 species now known from Morocco is given.

Background: Pneumatic compression of the lower part of the body increases systemic vascular resistance and left ventricular afterload., Aim: We compared the diagnostic accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) with pneumatic compression of the lower extremities, vs. standard DSE, for detection of angiographically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with normal baseline resting wall motion., Methods: We enrolled 70 consecutive patients with no resting wall motion abnormalities (WMA), who underwent DSE. DSE was repeated with pneumatic compression of the lower extremities three days after the initial standard DSE. A positive test was defined as the induction of WMA in at least two contiguous non-overlap segments at any stage of dobutamine infusion. Significant coronary stenosis was defined as ≥ 50% obstruction of ≥ 1 sizable artery by coronary angiography., Results: The mean age of the study cohort was 54.7 ± 9.9 years; 55.7% were females. Thirty-eight (54.3%) patients had significant CAD. The mean test duration was 15.8 ± 5.1 min for standard DSE and 11.7 ± 4.1 min for DSE with pneumatic compression. Analysis of standard DSE revealed sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 81.6%, 90.6%, 91.2%, and 80.6%, respectively; overall accuracy was 85.7%. Analysis of DSE with pneumatic compression revealed sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 89.5%, 87.5%, 89.5%, and 87.5%, respectively; overall accuracy was 88.6%., Conclusions: In symptomatic patients with suspected CAD referred for evaluation by DSE, who have no resting wall motion abnormalities, pneumatic compression of the lower extremities during DSE improved the sensitivity but slightly reduced the specificity for detection of angiographically significant CAD, compared with standard DSE. Moreover, it reduced the test duration.

The prevalence of mycobacterial infection among lactating Fulani cows was investigated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kaduna State of Nigeria. Tuberculin testing using single comparative intradermal tuberculin test showed a 14.6 % positive, 4 % doubtful, and 81.4 % negative reactors. Mycobacterial infection was found to be present in the nomadic (constantly moving) and seminomadic (limited movement) management systems studied but management showed no significant effect on the prevalence of the disease. However, the prevalence was significantly higher in older age groups than the younger ones (P < 0.05).

Many new materials are now allowing new properties thanks to nanotechnology because this domain of physics gives possibilities to optimize targeted properties even if these materials react in very various influential parameters. Architectural, automotive, bone pathologies, environment, display applications are some concerned domains. The sol-gel process is a method allowing the realisation of coats at ambiant temperature, thus it is possible to realize Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), water-repellent coatings on privacy glass, antireflective coatings, hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces, bone tissue regeneration. In this study, the purpose is to show the thermal influence on a covered glass with a complex hybrid sol-gel solution. This coated glass is going to change color from red to orange under the heat influence. This color change effect comes from the evolution of various compounds organizations then/or from their loss during the degassing sequence. We show in spite of the complexity of the process that the responsible is mainly the organic dye. Thus the structure of the heated glass at 250 degrees C looks radically different than the heated one at 350 degrees C. SEM measurement allows to identify the surface compositions and to determine the elementary composition along the sample's cross section. TGA is used to justify a mass loss when samples are annealed. UV/Visible measurement is realized by two methods: in-line transmission to evaluate luminous flux and thus give colorimetric dot in the normalized CIE diagram and diffuse transmission to observe the size influence of the pigments. Infrared Reflectivity allows to evaluate the influence of species on the structure and to better target the nature of the lost compounds during annealing. TEM measurement proves that the obtained iron particles are nano rods for both samples.

Electrochemical techniques for depositing metal films and coatings have a long history. Such techniques essentially fall into two categories, with different advantages and disadvantages. The first, and oldest, makes use of spontaneous redox reactions to deposit a metal from solution, and can be used on both insulating and metallic substrates. But the deposition conditions of these processes are difficult to control in situ, in part because of the variety of salts and additives present in the solution. The second approach-electroplating-uses an electric current to reduce metal ions in solution, and offers control over the quantity (and, to some extent, grain size) of deposited metal. But application of this technique has hitherto been restricted to conducting substrates. Here we describe an electroplating technique that permits coating of insulating substrates with metals having controlled grain size, thickness and growth speed. The basis of our approach is the progressive outward growth of the metal from an electrode in contact with the substrate, with the cell geometry chosen so that the electron current providing the reduction passes through the growing deposit. Such an approach would normally form dendritic or powdery deposits, but we identify a range of conditions in which uniform films rapidly form.